Hometown heroes: Lenoir-Rhyne league favorite with eight local products as 2013 season approaches

By Richard Walker

Published: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 11:15 AM.

Greensboro College – Josh Thompson (East Lincoln 2008) is a senior running back and Carlos Arceyut (North Lincoln 2013) a freshman wide receiver for the Pride, who open at home against Guilford Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.

Howard – Travon Hunt (Burns 2013) is a freshman defensive back for the Bison, who open at Eastern Michigan Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

North Carolina – A.J. Blue (North Gaston 2008) is a senior running back and Norkeithus Otis (Ashbrook 2011) a junior linebacker for the Tar Heels, who open at South Carolina Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

North Carolina A&T – Cody Jones (Hunter Huss 2013) is a freshman kicker and Major Kay (North Lincoln 2012) a freshman offensive lineman for the Aggies, who open at Appalachian State Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.

NC State – Quinton Patterson (Crest 2013) is a freshman linebacker-fullback and Colton Stortz (East Lincoln 2013) a freshman offensive lineman for the Wolfpack, who open at home against Louisiana Tech Aug. 31 at 12:30 p.m.

North Greenville – Griffin Marsh (Clover 2011) is a junior offensive lineman and Trent Hartis (Clover 2013) a freshman linebacker for the Crusaders, who open at home against Albany State Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

Pikeville – Scott McMichael (East Lincoln 2013) is a freshman linebacker for the Bears, who open at Morehead State Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.

On the L-R coaching staff are former Davidson head coach Tripp Merritt (Burns 1986) and former Ashbrook High and Greensboro College assistant Randy Thompson (North Gaston 1999). Both are first-year assistants – Merritt with the secondary and Thompson as video coordinator – for head coach Mike Houston, whose team opens its 2013 season at home Sept. 7 against Concord, W.Va., at 7 p.m.

The Bears haven’t won three straight league titles since they won four straight titles in Conference Carolinas from 1965 to 1968, which capped a run of 14 times in 18 seasons from 1951 to 1958.

There are several other former local standouts beginning their collegiate seasons in the next couple of weeks:

Appalachian State – Manning Burton (Shelby 2013) is a freshman kicker, Jamie Collmar (Forestview 2012) a freshman offensive lineman and Drew Stewart (North Gaston 2009) a senior kicker for the Mountaineers, who open Aug. 31 at Montana at 9 p.m.

Auburn – Charlie Harbison (Crest 1978) is co-defensive coordinator and former Gardner-Webb coach Ellis Johnson is defensive coordinator for the Tigers, who open at home against Washington State Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.

Averett – Devin Hutchinson (Clover 2012) is a sophomore offensive lineman for the Cougars, who open Sept. 7 at Hampden-Sydney at 1 p.m.

Ball State – Damerrian Petty (Burns 2013) is a freshman defensive lineman for the Cardinals, who open Aug. 29 at Illinois State at 7 p.m.

Carson-Newman – Tyron Douglas (Clover 2010) is a senior running back for the Eagles, who open at home against Wayne State Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.

Catawba – Steven Bartlett (Forestview 2013) is a freshman long snapper and Deron Ford (Hunter Huss 2012) is a freshman linebacker for the Indians, who open at home against West Liberty Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Charlotte – Brandon Strupp (East Lincoln 2009) is a senior kicker and Cortezz Nixon (Forestview 2011) a sophomore defensive back for the 49ers, who open at home against Campbell Aug. 31 at noon.

Chattanooga – Former Forestview standout Keon Williams is a junior running back for the Mocs, who open at home against Tennessee-Martin Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.

The Citadel – Aaron Miller (Clover 2011) is a junior quarterback and Devan Robbins (South Point 2013) a freshman running back for the Bulldogs, who open at home against Charleston Southern Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Davidson – Tim Hines (Kings Mountain 2011) is a junior wide receiver for the Wildcats, who open at Georgetown, D.C., Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.

Duke – Carson Ginn (South Point 2011) is a sophomore offensive tackle and Carlos Wray (Shelby 2012) a sophomore nose guard for the Blue Devils, who open at home against North Carolina Central Aug. 31 at 4 p.m.

East Carolina – Zeek Bigger (Ashbrook 2011) is a sophomore linebacker, Maurice Falls (South Point 2010) a junior linebacker and Cedric Thompson (Kings Mountain 2011) a sophomore wide receiver for the Pirates, who open at home against Old Dominion Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.

Elon – Anthony Hambright (Ashbrook 2013) is a freshman defensive back for the Phoenix, who open at Georgia Tech Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.

Emory and Henry – John Duggins (North Lincoln 2012) is a freshman wide receiver for the Wasps, who open at home against Ferrum Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.

Fayetteville State – Michael Adams (North Gaston 2010) is a sophomore quarterback for the Broncos, who open Sept. 7 at home against Virginia State at 6 p.m.

Florida – Jonathan Bullard (Crest 2012) is a sophomore defensive lineman and Rhaheim Ledbetter (Crest 2012) a freshman defensive back for the Gators, who open at home against Toledo Aug. 31 at 12:21 p.m.

Fordham – Erik McCauley (Shelby 2013) is a freshman offensive lineman for the Rams, who open at home against Rhode Island Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.

Gardner-Webb – Jonathan Sherrill (Lincolnton 2012) is a sophomore cornerback, Michael Cunningham (Lincolnton 2012) a sophomore linebacker and Dylan Hopper (Crest 2012) a sophomore offensive lineman for the Bulldogs, who open at home against Furman Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Greensboro College – Josh Thompson (East Lincoln 2008) is a senior running back and Carlos Arceyut (North Lincoln 2013) a freshman wide receiver for the Pride, who open at home against Guilford Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.

Howard – Travon Hunt (Burns 2013) is a freshman defensive back for the Bison, who open at Eastern Michigan Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

North Carolina – A.J. Blue (North Gaston 2008) is a senior running back and Norkeithus Otis (Ashbrook 2011) a junior linebacker for the Tar Heels, who open at South Carolina Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

North Carolina A&T – Cody Jones (Hunter Huss 2013) is a freshman kicker and Major Kay (North Lincoln 2012) a freshman offensive lineman for the Aggies, who open at Appalachian State Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.

NC State – Quinton Patterson (Crest 2013) is a freshman linebacker-fullback and Colton Stortz (East Lincoln 2013) a freshman offensive lineman for the Wolfpack, who open at home against Louisiana Tech Aug. 31 at 12:30 p.m.

North Greenville – Griffin Marsh (Clover 2011) is a junior offensive lineman and Trent Hartis (Clover 2013) a freshman linebacker for the Crusaders, who open at home against Albany State Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

Pikeville – Scott McMichael (East Lincoln 2013) is a freshman linebacker for the Bears, who open at Morehead State Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.

South Carolina – Patrick Fish (Burns 2010) is a junior punter for the Gamecocks, who open at home against North Carolina Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

Southern University – Markise Walton (Shelby 2013) is a freshman defensive end for the Jaguars, who have Dawson Odums (Crest 1992) as head coach and Chris Coleman (Crest 1995) as an assistant coach. Southern opens at Houston Aug. 30 at 8:30 p.m.

Western Carolina – Four local products play for the Catamounts, who open at Middle Tennessee State Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. – Quevalas Murray (Shelby 2009) is a senior offensive lineman, Richard Sigmon (East Gaston 2011) a junior kicker, Darius Ramsey (Burns 2012) a sophomore running back and London Richardson (Burns 2012) a sophomore tight end.

Winston-Salem State – Curtis McGill (Lincolnton 2008) is a senior defensive back for the Rams, who open at UNC-Pembroke Sept. 5 at 8 p.m.

Wofford – Jack Teachey (Cherryville 1987) is the defensive coordinator for the Terriers, who open at Baylor Aug. 31 at 9:30 p.m.

Note – Some are products are expected to play for schools who have yet to update rosters on their respective websites.

Coming up: September 5 – 2013 College soccer preview.

You can reach Richard Walker at 704-869-1841 or by twitter.com/JRWalk22